Located in Mammoth Cave National Park, this is an excellent hike or run through a thick forest of trees. The trail is well-maintained.

Located in Ferne Clyffe State Park, this short out-and-back trail follows a small creek that leads past multiple rock formations to one of the most scenic and popular spots in the park, an intermittent 100-foot waterfall. The trail is very wide, fairly flat, and easy to follow making this a great choice for hikers of all skill levels. There are lots of foot paths that lead up above and around the waterfall but these can be slippery and narrow so hike cautiously if exploring around the waterfall.

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is a large natural area that offers three manmade lakes and lots of hiking trails for exploring the area. The Rocky Bluff Trail is located on the eastern side of Devils Kitchen Lake and travels through dense woodlands and along the shores of the lake where abundant wildlife and great views of the lake can be seen. There is also a scenic waterfall located along the route. The trail can be muddy with lots of debris and tree roots along sections of the path so be cautious and pay attention when hiking.

The Round Bluff Nature Preserve is located in Ferne Clyffe State Park and offers a loop trail that leads through the natural area that offers interesting rock formations, abundant wildlife, and diverse flora and fauna all year long. The protected area only allows hiking on designated trails and all plants and animals are protected within the preserve. The state park also offers picnic areas, campsites, and lots of other hiking trails outside the boundaries of the nature preserve.

Bays Mountain Park is the largest city owned park in Tennessee. It offers shady forests, ponds, streams and a variety of plants and animals to see. This is a nature preserve so following rules and regulations is a must. The Chiquipin Trail offers super fun smooth singletrack riding on a relatively flat surface. You will wind through a thick forest with excellent scenery surrounding you. The park is closed after 8pm during the summer and has different designated hours during the spring and winter.

This section of the Tunnel Hill State Trail starts from the Tunnel Hill Road trailhead and goes to a turnaround point at Breeden Trestle. The hike travels through the tunnel for which the trail was named and provides lots of nice scenery. The trail does continue on in both directions for many more miles so adding mileage and exploring more of the area is a nice option. The hike can also be done as a one-way trip by shuttling vehicles if desired. The trail is multi-use so watch for bikers and joggers along the way.

The hike through Barkhausen Wetlands follows a scenic spur trail that leads to the popular Tunnel Hill State Trail. This section of the trail provides some of the best wildlife viewing the area has to offer. There are interpretive signs along sections of the trail as well as a wetlands center that provides lots of information about the wetland habitat. The trail is multi-use and popular with biking and jogging so pay attention to others on the trail. The hike can be done as an out-and-bak or a one-way trip by shuttling vehicles to one of the many access points along the Tunnel Hill State Trail.

There are a lot of features to see on these two trails. You will enjoy seeing the Double Arch, Haystack Rock, Courthouse Rock, Raven Rock and other views of the Red River Gorge. Double Arch has a large opening at the bottom and a smaller one above it. Sharp cliff drop offs are along both sides of the Auxier Ridge so use caution.

This trail leads hikers to a great overlook spot that provides excellent views of the Mississippi River valley and Big Muddy bottomlands below as well as abundant wildlife viewing opportunity. The trail can be exposed and slippery at times so hike cautiously. There are also poisonous snakes and plants that you need to keep an eye out for. The trail can be done as an out-and-back or one-way by shuttling vehicles between the two trailheads for the trail.

Hiking this route along the levee road and edges of an island of Horseshoe Lake provides some of the best birdwatching opportunity in all of Illinois. The trail travels along the shores of the lake through thick wooded areas home to abundant wildlife and birdlife all year long. The trail is also used by bicyclists so watch out for others along the route. The trail may be closed during hunting season so check before setting out. The conservation area also offers picnicing, camping, fishing, and boating on the lake.